Underlying trend

[J. J.]

[The Street Administration was one of the most crooked in city history and I thought the bugging twist was just that- a twist. 

Ah, could you cite some examples please.  I seem to remember the President of the FOP being removed for accepting some bribes from people in the Rendell administration?

[J. J.]

[The Street Administration was one of the most crooked in city history and I thought the bugging twist was just that- a twist. 

Ah, could you cite some examples please. 

J.J. come on. Street has ignored the Northeast. He is a failure of a Mayor. And the way he spun that bugging incident was an absolute disgrace.

I'm not addressing the bugging incident.  Even the investigation does not seem to be too tied to city operations.

You saying he's a failure does not make it so.  I'm not seeing the Street Administration as being any more "crooked" that the Rendell administration.

On the other hand, I have seen improvements in city operations and services in my neighborhood and Germantown.

[J. J.]

I'm no fan of Rendell but even I have to admit that he was better than Street. Northeast Philadelphia is treated like a totally different city by this Mayor. He's corrupt and the sad thing is that he got away with it in the '03 election.

How is he corrupt?  Compared even to Rendell (who I would not classify as corrupt), I would classify Street as honest.

[J. J.]

The city contracts and the way that he spun the bugging incident is enough of a reason to say Street is not an honest individual.

The bugging incident was not of his doing.  He's in the middle of a campaign and a bug is discovered in his office?  Everyone jumped to the conlusion in the first hours that it was Katz; it was "spun" that it wasn't the Katz campaign.

As I've indicated, the President of the FOP under Rendell was convicted of receiving a bribe from city officials in return for support on a contract.

[J. J.]

The city contracts and the way that he spun the bugging incident is enough of a reason to say Street is not an honest individual.

The bugging incident was not of his doing.  He's in the middle of a campaign and a bug is discovered in his office?  Everyone jumped to the conlusion in the first hours that it was Katz; it was "spun" that it wasn't the Katz campaign.

As I've indicated, the President of the FOP under Rendell was convicted of receiving a bribe from city officials in return for support on a contract.

Street and his pals made it seem like Katz and the GOP were responsible for planting the bug. Congressman Brady admitted in an interview earlier this year that he did spin the news to the Democrats' advantage.

The Press did that, initially, suggesting a possible link with the Katz campaign; that was in the first hours of the breaking story.  Almost everyone nationally commenting on it thought the timing of the Federal District doing it was a huge mistake.  The spin, such as it was, was not much beyond that.

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Let me make it clear that I am not defending Rendell. I'm not a fan of his but I will say that if I had the choice between him and Street, I'd go with Rendell. I don't think he was a great mayor (as some would suggest) but I feel that I could trust him more than Street and I don't think the Northeast was totally ignored during his time in office.

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Bacardi called the Street Administration "one of the most crooked in city history," and you have called him "corrupt."  You've also said that you feel that you could "trust" Rendell more.

This is how "corrupt" the Street administration is.  As far I know, he has never been the "target" of any grand jury investigation or targeted by the Federal Prosecutor.  That doesn't exactly scream "corruption" to me.

As for trust, I can think of two scandals involving the city during the Rendell Administration (and I bet there are more).  The FOP contract incident, which led to the FOP President being convicted; that involved the city giving him things personally.  The second was 39th District police scandal, where nearly 100 drug convictions were overturned because the police planted evidence.  That led to convictions as well, of the now ex-police officers and several million dollars in compensation to the exonerated victims.

Now, Rendell didn't have anything directly to do with those, more so least with the second, but they were part of his administration.  I'm far from convinced that anything relating to the contracts is any closer to Street than these were to Rendell.

As for the Northeast, I don't travel there on a daily or weekly basis, but I do in North Philadelphia and in Germantown, and I've seen TV report from South Philadelphia.  The streets are being plowed there.  From everything I've seen, Street is doing the job in these other neighborhood.

[J. J.]

Street and his team spun the news, trying to blame the national GOP, the President and Katz.

The Northeast is ignored by this Mayor. I just love how he calls himself "The Neighborhood Mayor" too. What a joke.

That's pretty much all I have to saw on this matter since we seem to be repeating our lines in every post.

Street is the "The Neighborhood Mayor" in my neighborhood.  Here and in Germantown, he has delivered.  Now, I can't tell you what he's like in Northeast, but he has delivered in these other two sections.

I am going to call both you and Bacardi on something that you have said; you called him "corrupt" and Bacardi said that his administration is "one of the most currupt in city history."  I'll hold you to same standard I hold jFRAUD to, where is your evidence?

Now, I didn't like the spin, because I don't like spin.  I also don't like the implication that the FBI was investigating Street, which they were not.  By putting that bug in, they left that implication.  Had the prosecutor's office issued an immediate statement that Street was not the target of an investigation, it might have been a one day story.

Now, I do not think that there was some sort of Republican conspiracy involving the planting of the device.  I do, however, think there was a great deal of stupidity in planting it and not immediately announcing that its target was not Street.

[J. J.]

Street and his team spun the news, trying to blame the national GOP, the President and Katz.

The Northeast is ignored by this Mayor. I just love how he calls himself "The Neighborhood Mayor" too. What a joke.

That's pretty much all I have to saw on this matter since we seem to be repeating our lines in every post.

Street is the "The Neighborhood Mayor" in my neighborhood.  Here and in Germantown, he has delivered.  Now, I can't tell you what he's like in Northeast, but he has delivered in these other two sections.

I am going to call both you and Bacardi on something that you have said; you called him "corrupt" and Bacardi said that his administration is "one of the most currupt in city history."  I'll hold you to same standard I hold jFRAUD to, where is your evidence?

Now, I didn't like the spin, because I don't like spin.  I also don't like the implication that the FBI was investigating Street, which they were not.  By putting that bug in, they left that implication.  Had the prosecutor's office issued an immediate statement that Street was not the target of an investigation, it might have been a one day story.

Now, I do not think that there was some sort of Republican conspiracy involving the planting of the device.  I do, however, think there was a great deal of stupidity in planting it and not immediately announcing that its target was not Street.

He doesn't deliver here. He must think we are a seperate city.

As for my evidence, we do know that the Mayor gave his brother a nice little city contract for the airport, right? Wasn't there some controversy surrounding that? Then we have his connections with Ron White and all the other mysterious activities regarding other city contracts. He surrounds himself with corrupt people and in my opinion he is a corrupt person. While this has nothing to do with corruption, I thought I might as well bring up the Mayor's well known quote: "The Brothers and sisters are running the city." What a leader.

We know that his brother has a contract, but there is no evidence that it was improperly awarded; we also that a number of city official do have relatives that work for the city (the Inquirer did a recent story).   I take it that you don't feel that simply being related to someone should disqualify someone from working for the City?

We know that Ron White, an attorney, did legal work for the city, but contracted work; he wasn't part of the administration.  The case which is the origin of this, the private school run by an Islamic Iman, dealt with federal funds federally administered; that's why the FBI is involved.  That isn't connected to the city.

As for the claim that Street "surrounds himself with corrupt people," you could make that claim about most, it not all, mayors since Rizzo.  Does that make any of them corrupt?  No.   I know one Congressman (R) whose staffer received a "target" letter from the FBI, relating to the staffer's work for Ernie Preate; does that make the Congressman corrupt?

I did find his comment that "We're in charge," to be insulting, but I was also relatively happy about who was in charge when he said it.  I really don't care about the skin color of who is running things as long they are doing the job.  I take that the skin color of the managing director, the fire, and police commissioner really doesn't matter to you either?

As I've said, I've Steet as doing a good job in my neighborhood and in other neighborhoods I frequent, so far, and that's a good swath of Philadelphia.

[J. J.]

Wasn't there something illegal about the contract? I believe they were looking into that.

When it comes to that Mayor's comments, it shows that he is not a leader. I believe he made a second comment that the Brothers and sisters were still in charge of the city and if you don't like it, register Republican. These are good comments? I don't care about the color of someone's skin either, J.J. It's the fact that he uses race to divide us. Could you imagine if a white guy said "The whites are running this town." Could you imagine?

This Mayor has not done a good job with this city. People leave the city. Buisness stays away. Without the bugging, Street would have been gone. I wonder if they'll have approval ratings come out at the end of his term. I don't think he'd get above 45%.

No, so far there has been nothing illegal about the contract with the relatives.  They've look and found nothing.

The comment that hear said nothing about Republicans.  He said, to a Black group, "We're in charge."  He citied those previously mentioned positions, the holders of which are African American (and one at least was Rendell appointee).  I didn't like remark, but I took the intent to be "Black people are now able to hold these positions; we've come into our own."  If a White mayor had said to the same group and referring to the same people, "You're in charge," I think I would have found that offensive as well.

Well, on your third point you can make the same claim about every mayor over the last 50 years.  Street has been trying to lower both business and income taxes to help with that.

The polls, prior to the "bugging," showed Street leading, though the numbers opened up after that.  There was also a trial involving a business that Katz owned and fraud; they got a civil conviction, I believe.

The bugging made it a route, but it still would have been a Street victory without it.

[J. J.]

J.J., this is one of the few areas me and Keystone actually agree.  His "brotha and sistas" comment along with telling us to vote Republican if we don't like it was very offense to me as a Democrat.  At times I've had the difficult task of defending the national Democratic party because of Street.  Street is lucky Terry McAuliffe or any other prominent Democrat didn't dime his ass out for saying that because if I were DNC chair or representing say PA 13, I would in 2 seconds.  Granted, I realize some whites up here amplify how much they dislike Street because of his color, but Street is not helping us or the African American community.  I would vote for a black mayor if I see it fit.  A small part of the reason I am a Democrat is I get the priviledge of choosing our next mayor, which you or Keystone will simply find out the Wednesday after the primaries unless Frank Rizzo runs and even then I doubt it.     

I'm not defending Street's comments.  I was offended by them.  I would have much preferred for him to have said, "and the reason we are in charge is because we are good for the city, not because we are Black."

Is he helping those communities that I'm familiar with, Germantown and North Philadelphia.  My answer has to be a resounding yes.  He's been taking down abandoned buildings, towing abandoned cars, putting more police at bad areas, and in my neighborhood, plowing the streets.  So far, he's not raising taxes to do it.

Now maybe the "abandoned car/house" issue isn't important in you neighborhood; maybe your neighborhood doesn't have any "bad areas."  That is not typical of Philadelphia.

[J. J.]

J.J., this is one of the few areas me and Keystone actually agree.  His "brotha and sistas" comment along with telling us to vote Republican if we don't like it was very offense to me as a Democrat.  At times I've had the difficult task of defending the national Democratic party because of Street.  Street is lucky Terry McAuliffe or any other prominent Democrat didn't dime his ass out for saying that because if I were DNC chair or representing say PA 13, I would in 2 seconds.  Granted, I realize some whites up here amplify how much they dislike Street because of his color, but Street is not helping us or the African American community.  I would vote for a black mayor if I see it fit.  A small part of the reason I am a Democrat is I get the priviledge of choosing our next mayor, which you or Keystone will simply find out the Wednesday after the primaries unless Frank Rizzo runs and even then I doubt it.     

Now maybe the "abandoned car/house" issue isn't important in you neighborhood; maybe your neighborhood doesn't have any "bad areas."  That is not typical of Philadelphia.

We have our problems up here, J.J. I went for a drive with my friend a couple nights ago and there was ice on almost every side street. We actually had to drive up an icy hill. He says we'll get every street plowed. He sits in some snow plow for the TV cameras. How come many of the side streets in the Northeast were in poor condition?

Mine is, in general, and I'll admit that it was missed this last time.  There are no TV cameras around.

[J. J.]

Well, on your third point you can make the same claim about every mayor over the last 50 years.  Street has been trying to lower both business and income taxes to help with that.

The polls, prior to the "bugging," showed Street leading, though the numbers opened up after that.  There was also a trial involving a business that Katz owned and fraud; they got a civil conviction, I believe.

The bugging made it a route, but it still would have been a Street victory without it.

Yes, I frequently make the point about every Mayor for the past 50 years and I intend to make that point until something changes. Street hasn't made the situation any better.

The polls did show Street leading before the bugging but not by much. The city wasn't happy with him. I honestly think he would have lost by about 2-4 points.

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Gee, the population of a large Northeastern city has been declining.  I'm shocked by the news.

Well, has Street tried to do something about.  Yes, it deals with livability to "abandonment issue" and community policing.  To pay for it all, he's raised income and business taxes how much?  Zero.

Even on strict policy issues, Katz would have lost.  He favored a tax cut, but wanted to finance it with a bond issue and wasn't talking about the livability issues.

As for the comment about "We're in charge," Street was so committed to advancing his race that he retained that great African Americian police commissioner when elected, John F. Timoney.  I guess Dublin was South of Ireland.  (That is sarcasm for you non-Philadelphians)

[J. J.]

I guess you're one of those "Let's just manage the decline" type people, J.J.? Don't think that this city can grow? Let's get some new leadership and I bet buisness and people will begin to change their thinking of this city.

As for Street retaining Timoney, I don't think because someone makes racist comments that they will suddenly only appoint members of their race to positions of importance. If memory serves me right, I think Street made a comment that the FBI and national GOP were afraid to see a black man in power so that is why the bug was planted. Give me a break.

Well, first of all, I am one those people that notes that Norteastern (and Midwestern) cities have tended to lose population over the last 50 years.  It has to do with the ability to commute to work.  Now, are you suggesting we nuke the Skuylhill Expressway, I-95, and the bridges into New Jersey?

If you want to solve that problem you have to attract residents.  You do by not overtaxing and inproving the quality of living, like Street has done.

My memory does not indicate that Street said any such thing.  Commentators around the country did.  There was also criticizm of the Balimore Federal Attorney for targeting (nonexistent) public corruption cases.

If the Feds, at the local level, really wanted to depolitize the bugging, the could have issued a letter that Street was not the subject of the investigation at the time.  They did after the election.

[J. J.]

I'm pretty sure Street made that comment and he wanted voters (especially black voters) to think that this was some big conspiracy against him.

I heard a few commentators, mostly from outside the city, saying that.  I heard even more stating how stupid law enforcement was for doing it.  I agree with the second point.

If the FBI really wanted to depolitze this, they could have.  They did not.  They put, what turned to be an unwarrented cloud of suspision over Street 6 weeks prior to the election.  That was improper.


I can understand why a few people, both Black and White, might have wanted to "box the ears" of the Federal prosecutor for doing that.

[J. J.]

Have you considered that Timoney may be 'black' Irish?

Timoney is white.

Ask a Catholic Irishman about the 'black' Irish.  But stand back before he answers, as you may get a torrent of words which won't exactly be kind.

I think you're thinking of the Black and Tans, named for the colours of their uniforms.

The "Black Irish" were supposedly decendents of the dark complexion Spanish survivors of the Armada.  I've heard Black Irish refer to themselves as "Black Irish," so I'm not sure the term is derogatory.